Review of Jewish Film Experience

The two films that I thought were the most impactful that were screened were "Silent" and "No Love Lost".  In Silent it follows a man that is struggling with guilt after he survives a firing squad line and despite setting himself free in the nick of time, is not able to save the woman next to him.  It built up serious tension as the bodies dropped one by one in front of him as he sawed away at the rope handcuffs on him.  It sent a chill over the room and was a powerful movie.  In No Love Lost it follows a strange couple of a jewish boy and a muslim girl that is stalked by a white girl covered in racist tattoos.  Her outward appearance is scary but at the end of the movie she seems to try to hide it in front of the couple, as if in an attempt to interact with them.  In the end, they notice her tattoos and take a stand against her proudly wearing there religious garments and walking away.  The girl seems disappointed and sad that her outward appearance scares people off.

Foley Room and Cinerama

I saw Foley Room for the first time last semester and was shocked to see how they did the sound editing process.  The shock was not there the second time around, but the amazement of the process did not waver.  The obscurity of the tools they use and the intricacy and timing they use in the process truly is amazing.  The scene opens to a room full of junk and scraps really that these people use to make amazing sound effects so true to life it is scary.  This is one of my favorite documentaries and its always a joy to watch.

Cinerama was a film that was not necessarily a joy to watch but was good to experience and see for yourself.  I think the true value of cinerama was being in the the screened cinema with the full effect.  I feel as if IMAX is a comparable experience and I personally think IMAX is great.  I think because of the viewing limitation we faced in class the experience of cinerama that really gives it its value wasn't there.  That being said I still learned the importance of it and it was cool to see that the movie they sold tickets for was basically one big advertisement where they showed off the technology.

Jewish Film Experience

The films of the Jewish Film Experience were highly enjoyable in a lot of ways. While they ranged in quality level, all of them did meet a level of quality which is worth celebrating as is. However, the first one had an especially profound impact on not just myself but the audience as a whole it seems. In fact, I heard audible laughs and "awws" throughout the entire thing. It is interesting seeing this close knit community that all had a special impact on the film industry and played a large part in some staples of Hollywood and cinematic history, such as The Ten Commandments and Mickey Mouse cartoons among others.

The fact that these people have managed to live long and happy lives and have not grown jaded or bitter in their old age I think is something that really resonates with the general public. We connect with these people instantly because they look vulnerable yet we are overjoyed to find out not just their background but that they are in the long run very happy and have lived (or rather are still living) happy lives.

In a world where people leave too soon and we lose things along the way, it is comforting to know that people who have reached an age where they've seen just about all life has, the good and the bad, and are still as happy, optimistic, friendly, and lively as if it were the first day of their lives. In all, this film, in the context of a strong compilation overall, was lasting and enjoyable; a film that shows how precious a gift life really is.

Blackfish

Blackfish was an interesting documentary in many ways. As someone who travels to Orlando, Florida often I have often been bombarded by advertisements for Sea World and all its supposed "splendor." I do admit as a child often thinking that it would bee cool to see a giant killer whale perform before me, however the thought of something being a killer was frightening to me and as such I was always leery about asking my parents to take me. It turn out, my fears may not have been too far off.

It is shameful the way the trainers at Sea World are put in danger often, under the guise simply that it's part of the experience. By this I mean guests are given the illusion that these trainers are safe with these animals regardless of anything the animal does. Also, it was simply disgusting to find out the way some of the animals have been treated. Both the way they captured and accidentally killed a number of killer whales when building Sea World and of course the sad trainer deaths filled me with immense sadness. I was also filled with anger at the fact that Sea World did not even bother to comment on anything in the documentary at risk of bad publicity (which clearly has backfired).

In all, Sea World boasts itself as a place of joy and fun, yet I see now that it is far from it. While their guest experience may be in a good state (if one can call just at par that), it it just as important in these establishments what goes on behind the scenes. It is that comfort and lack of hidden information that makes experiences at places heavily featuring animals like WDW's Animal Kingdom or Mystic Aquarium all the more enjoyable. On a side note about this documentary, it seems that it has had such a profound affect that the upcoming PIXAR film Finding Dory has needed to reassess certain elements of the story involving the characters and a fish-based amusement park akin to Sea World. We must wait until 2016 sadly to see what changes have been made and how profound an impact the negligence of Sea World has had on something as innocent as a sequel to Finding Nemo.

Foley Room and Cinerama

In class we viewed two documentaries, The Foley Room and Cinerama. Having already watched the film on the Foley Room I was surprised at how much it still shocked me. To think about this process is fascinating because it takes twice as long to create a film, than if they just left the original sound. What I also found to be interesting was the different ways they thought of to create the different sounds and the idea that all this happens in a single room.

The second film we watched was Cinerama. This film was used to introduce the widescreen process. The idea of this was interesting and was a big deal back in the day. What caught my attention was the idea that they used three different projectors and had to synchronize them in order for the pictures across the screen and the sound to line up. If one of the pictures were behind the others it would mess up the showing. Although, this wasn’t one of my favorite films I believe it still has educational value for everyone who has an interest in film.

Review of Foley Room and Cinerama

This happened to be the third time I have seen the Foley Room Documentary and I still thoroughly enjoyed it. I personally love seeing what goes on behind the scenes on a film. This was a great part of the film making process to see. I was surprised by the props they used to replicate such recognizable sounds. My favorite example is the rags being shaken to sound like birds flapping. Until I saw this film I had no idea how many sounds were added in post production. I always thought added sounds were saved for fake explosions and other dramatic effects. I would happily watch this film again and again.

Cinerama was an interesting concept to discuss in class, but the film itself became boring very quickly to me.  I think this is because the film was not plot driven. It was essentially a demonstration of what was a new technology. Sony and other technologies do these types of demos regularly when showing off a new operating system or video game. I personally found the content very dry. I'm sure if I had been around when Cinerama was invented I would have thought it was visually stunning. Since I have high definition and IMAX to compare it to, Cinerama does not seem that impressive to me. I can absolutely appreciate how important it is to the film industry, but it's difficult to enjoy watching it in current times.

I'm sorry if Cinerama is spelled incorrectly. This was the most popular way of spelling it I could find online. However, the blog is telling me it is incorrect.

Jewish Experience Films

I'm really glad that we got to have the Jewish Experience films during our class, since there was such a wide array and they were all entertaining in varying ways.  "Lunches With Mel”,”Show Folk" and "Do You Believe in Love" were much more uplifting than the other two films that were shown.  Although "Lunches With Mel" and "Show Folk" weren't exactly about Jews and the Jewish experience, they did give the evening a lighter and less depressing tone to the night.  "Do You Believe in Love" was interesting because we got to learn about the matchmaking business in Israel, as well as listen to people speaking Hebrew and learn a little bit more about the culture in Israel with influences from the Jewish faith.

"Silent" and "No Love Lost" were the heavy hitters of the evening.  The first being about an old Jewish man dealing with his traumatic memories during WW II, being tormented by the guilt of survival, and how he must face his memories before leaving this world.  The second film was about how a Jewish boy is in a secret relationship with a Muslim girl despite the realities of their different backgrounds and faiths, and how they are unaware that an incredibly prejudiced young woman is stalking them. While the couple struggles to be open about their relationship, the stalker's obsession shows a thought-provoking climax that ends with the three coming face to face.  Although these films were much more difficult to watch, they were incredibly well done and showed the realities that many people have to deal with everyday.

Review of The Jewish Experience Films

One of my favorite films that was shown during the presentation was "Show Folk" This documentary was positive and showed a side of the film industry that isn't usually recognized. The people included in the film talked about the difficult aspects of being in the film industry, but also recognized how wonderful it was to be a part of. It was nice to see people who looked back on their careers and lives positively. This film struck me as a truthful telling of the character's stories. The film didn't rely on narrations or dramatizations, just interviews. This made the film believable and even more enjoyable.

Some of the other films were more hard hitting. One such film depicted the memories of a Rabbi that barely escaped being executed by a Nazi soldier. He was the only survivor of the incident which haunted him for the rest of his life. I wouldn't consider this film difficult to watch like "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas" was, but I did respond emotionally to it. This was an entirely new situation to witness. Usually films about WWII focus on concentration camps, but this film made it a point to show a different aspect of the war that impacted Jews just as much.

While not every film struck a chord with me, I did enjoy the evening and would like to re watch a number of the films shown. I am sorry that I could attend the other events held during this festival. I would have liked to see the other films as well.

BlackFish

This film was very emotionally heavy in a way that the others were not. it is hard to see/hear about humans losing their lives under any circumstances, but it was the animals who really ran this film (in every way possible). I think the form of story telling through interviews and first hand accounts was really powerful in the impact of the film. I was engaged throughout the entire film and did not start to doze at long drawn out exposition or still images of something that was being talked about. Instead, the film relied on the stories told through these outside voices and their materials, that they somehow kept through all these years. Maybe they knew that they had a story to tell and were just waiting for the right time, because they had something to say at all times. They did not seem to forcing this information at all, instead they were compiling these stories in the best possible sequence to prove a point and expose the entire picture.
I found this form to be the most powerful of the films we have seen so far, and I hope that more filmmakers see this as a form of social discourse but also as a model for entertainment in the documentary field. You have to capture a crowd in order to keep them. and many films fail to keep the audience engaged, no matter how important and unique the content is. Its all about the way you present the information in film!
-Caitlin

Blackfish

After watching Blackfish I was not sure what to think. When I was a little kid I loved Sea World. Recently, my nieces and nephew went to Florida and all of them came back saying how much they loved Sea World. It made my stomach ache to see how these beautiful creatures were/are being treated and how the place that was said to be ‘caring’ for them was such a large part of my childhood. Although I found this film educational and it kept me interested, it was still upsetting in many ways. The worst part of the film for me was hearing the man say that they fill the unwanted whales with rocks and sink them to the bottom with an anchor. It was shocking for me to see how animals that should be free are being kept in an area smaller than a classroom and how no one ever knew about this or did anything about it.

In the class discussion we talked about the similarities between the way they treat the whales at Sea World and how we believe the animals are treated at a zoo. To me I have never seen behind the scene at a zoo but that does make me question if there is harm to the animals, if they are treated properly, if the space they are given as a habitat is truly big enough for them. The only part of a zoo that has made me question it is the parts where you can ride on an elephant or on a camel. You never hear of any accidents but that doesn’t mean there hasn’t been any. That is just like those that have to take care of the lions or gorillas, there has to have been a few accidents that are not spoken about but have happened. But as I continued to think about this I began to compare the movie and the zoo to a circus. I feel as though there are just as many comparisons to the animals in a circus. They are forced to preform just for the entertainment of people and are then sent to a small cage just like the whales at Sea World.

-Hayley

Boy in the Striped Pajamas

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, although a feature film, has many documentary elements and shows the effects of what a limited view to the world can bring you.  This film highlights how people's views of the world are so reliant on the experiences they live through and that no two people have the same perspective.  This idea is highlighted in this movie through two young boys, who grew up in the same time period, in similar geographic locations, but lived drastically different lives.  One boy was the son of a Nazi officer, and was told his whole life that his father was a good soldier that only helped people and did no harm.  But upon moving to a house on the same land as a concentration camp, the boy soon saw what soldiers like his father were really doing.  The other point of view is of a young boy, who was a jew inside the concentration camp near the house of the other young boy.  These two interact with each other from opposite sides of the fence and come to learn that they are not all that different from each other, despite what all the adults are telling them.  The young boys the innocence and naivety that was taken away from so many young people during this time by society and shows that the differences between us are really all in our heads.  

Blackfish

Since I have seen this film before, I attempted to look at everything that was being presented with a more critical eye and tried to look past what the directors of the documentary were telling us.  Overall the film was very well done, the directors presented the facts in a way that made it hard to not believe what was being said, mostly because of the people they interviewed.  The majority of the people that they interviewed were former employees of Sea World, who had been trainers of the various marine animals that they had, as well as the orca whales.  One could argue that the trainers were biased, or that they are disgruntled ex-employees, but the evidence of the cruelty that these animals are put through is obvious and cannot be questioned.  Whether or not Tilikum was brought up to kill because of the treatment that he had experienced remains to be debated, but no matter what, someone cannot deny that these poor animals are being mistreated and should either be released or be put into much better facilities where they can be properly cared for.

The directors presented the facts about Tilikum and how he was brought to Sea World, the way that they capture the orca whales, as well as the interactions and culture of the whales in a way that showed the audience that they are inteligent and sensitive creatures that need to be with their families.  The fact that many of the whales in captivity are depressed, violent and at times dangerous goes to show that they shouldn't be in captivity at all, or at the very least treated under much better conditions.  Overall the documentary shed light on the goings on at Sea World, as well as the mistreatment of the animals at their facilities.

The Boy in The Striped Pajamas

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas was one of the most powerful, jaw-dropping movies that iv'e seen in a very long time. This film follows an innocent boy named Bruno who has a Nazi father. The family once located in Berlin moves to the country which is host to a nearby concentration camp. Bruno and the family have little knowledge of the horrors that are taking place in their backyard. Bruno, curious about "the farm" that can be seen from his bedroom window, attempts to escape their gated off house and venture into a world that couldn't be more different than his own. Bruno finds a boy the same age as him and eventually becomes good friends with him. He begins to learn that his friend, Leon can't escape his gated off area quite as easily. So the two of them have a plan to clone Bruno as a Jewish boy. Leon's dad is missing so Bruno decides to climb under the fence to help his friend, little to his knowledge what is past the fence is nothing short of a living hell.

Bruno is such an interesting character, he is completely conflicted on what is right, what is wrong and who is good and who is bad. He looks up to his dad and wants to believe that whatever he is doing is right, however his new friend gives him different ideas. His mother is livid at Bruno's Nazi father for the thousands of people he is mercilessly killing. There is also Bruno's sister who has been completely brainwashed by the Nazi ideals that have been engraved in  their heads by their teacher, father and all of the Nazi solders that are constantly at the house. Bruno ends up helping his friend, still without knowing what he was actually getting himself into. Unfortunately the only way Bruno's father understands how many people he put through misery, torture and murder he has to lose a son in the process. The film set out to make you feel a certain way about what was happening during this time, and it did not fail.

Jesus Camp star 5 years later

As promised, here is a link to a video where you can see Levi, from Jesus Camp five years after the film was made.  He is just as intense as ever - check it out.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas Response

No matter how many times you watch The Boy in the Striped Pajamas it will move you every time. The amount of emotions that I went through when watching that movie is incredible. However, after watching all these propaganda pieces over the last semester, this one seems to tie it all together. The perspectives have changed in everything we have watched, and now we see the story from a young boy named Bruno.  As much as you want to love Bruno, you can't stand that his father is a brutal Nazi soldier running a concentration camp. 
As we see Bruno is forced to leave his best friends because his family is moving, and it is all very relatable. That's what makes it hit home. Innocent Bruno moves into his new house and is desperate for friendship and adventure. Right in his new backyard he thinks he sees a farm, and is very confused why people working in the farm are all wearing striped pajamas. Eventually he learns that those people are Jews, and though his teacher and sister and pretty much everyone in his life are pressing how terrible Jews are, he can't find it in himself to hate Jewish people. He is secretly forming a friendship with them, from having them right in his backyard. Friendship is so important to Bruno, that he does what he can to feed Shmuel and help him. It is difficult for him to understand the conditions that Shmuel is experiencing. He offers help to Shmuel to find his father, and ends up getting caught in the brutality that his own father is creating. Unfortunately his father's karma is that he loses his own son.  
The worst part about this situation is how accurately it depicted the conditions of the concentration camps. It gets me extremely emotional to be reminded that my own ancestors and direct blood relatives were treated with such hate and brutality by the Nazis in World War 2.  What disgusts me is that even children were brought into this. Shmuel is just an innocent young boy who is being penalized for being brought up a certain way. Bruno is being forced a prejudice on a boy he just wants as a friend. I finally see it from both perspectives. Bruno is just as innocent as Shmuel, they are just being raised in totally different ways. Crazy to wrap my head around all of this, but I am glad we watched this in class because it really does tie everything together perfectly. 

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

This was the second time I viewed The Boy in the Striped Pajamas and it was still just as powerful. The plot strings the viewer along until suddenly a character named Bruno whom you've grown very attached to meets an early end all thanks to his Nazi father. The whole film we want Ralf, Bruno's father, who is a high up Nazi solider and responsible for the murder of many jews to pay for his crimes. The viewer begs for Ralf to get a taste of his own medicine. However, it isn't until the very last scene of the film we realize this payback is the death of his own son. We are so angry little Bruno had to lose his life to make his father aware of the pain he was causing others. In the end Ralf experiences loss just as all the others had that he was having murdered.

It's interesting to track the plot through the deterioration of the mother. When Ralf announces he has gotten a promotion and the family will move the mother is overjoyed. The viewer sees that the mother understands Ralf's position but it isn't until later we realize the mother was unaware of the whole situation. She holds the family together and stands by her husbands side for the first half of the film. The true tipping point in her demeanor is when she realizes what burns in the tower at the concentration camp. From that point on she completely disagrees with the children living in this home. She begins to question everything Ralf says instead of happily standing by his side. Throughout the film she slowly realizes the horror that is happening around her and begins to resist a little at a time. The mother's put together demeanor diminishes as she understands the severity of the situation which is a good representation of how people in the camp are being treated. I liked this transformation as it showed the war had an affect on most people.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas Response

I waited a week to write this response because I would have been too emotional right after watching the film. Even though this was a scripted piece it was brutally honest about concentration camps and WWII. Where most documentaries show the surface of what happened in concentration camps, this film made it a more personal experience. What bothered me the most about this film was the fact that children were involved. Even though I knew children were kept in concentration camps, it was never something I thought about at great length. This is likely because it adds to the morbidity of what happened during that time in history. To see a concentration camp through the eyes of a child is very difficult. The innocence that Bruno had was consistent throughout the film. Even when he was being told how horrible Jews were, he was confused about how that could be true. It was easy to see that this was the first time he had experienced hate and prejudice.
For me the end of the film was the most difficult part to watch. I felt this way not only because of the sickening situation, but because Bruno died as a child while Shmule had been forced into a sham version of adulthood. To recognize that difference between the two characters was sad. Bruno died believing there was good in he world while Shmule had been through so much, there was no way for him to have that comfort. They were both children, but only one of them had the gift of ignorance. I hope I never have to watch this film again. It showed the reality of the situation, but that doesn't make it easier to watch.

Black Fish Response

This documentary was much easier to believe than some of the other films I've seen this semester. I focused on the interviews trying to see if any of the testimony sounded rehearsed or insincere. None of the trainers or other witnesses came across that way. I found it interesting that Seaworld refused to be interviewed for this film. It certainly didn't help them support the idea that Seaworld is an ethical and safe establishment. It just makes Seaworld seem guilty. 

I appreciated that there wasn't a narrator for this film. When something is narrated it makes the documentary feel less objective. As if the filmmakers are trying to carefully frame the content. I had heard horror stories about Seaworld and similar theme parks before, but this was the first time I was provided context. After seeing the film I think there is an excellent argument for not keeping orcas and other sea creatures in captivity. Even the animal trainers felt that the treatment of the animals was unfair and harmful. It isn't possible to keep the whales in an environment that mimics a natural way of living. Based on this fact alone the whales should be released. Their social habits and roaming lifestyles are completely inhibited. When the whales have no other way to communicate their unhappiness, it is no wonder that they have a habit of attacking people. Even those who mean them no harm. This film was interesting and in my opinion the most unbiased documentary that has been shown this semester. I would like to hear Seaworld's opinions on the matter. Just so any bias that was in the film could be balanced out.

Prisoner of Paradise

I really enjoyed the film Prisoner of Paradise. I've always had an interest in the Holocaust and the innate will power humans have to survive in life threatening situations. This film examined both of these ideas in regard to Kurt Gerron's life. Gerron was a jewish actor and director who found himself at Theresienstadt concentration camp amidst WWII. Nazi's approached Gerron and requested he make a film about how wonderful the camp was to convince the outside world that the jews were being treated freely. Gerron accepted for he realized that as long as the Nazi's needed him he would not be killed.

Gerron produced a film that went above and beyond Nazi expectations, so far above and beyond he betrayed his fellow jews. I understand that Gerron did this to survive each and every day but in the end it wasn't worth it for him. He was killed at Auschwitz one day before the gas chambers were closed. Gerron betrayed his people and helped his murderers at the same time. His will to survive let down the people he cared about and made no difference in the end. To me that was the saddest part about this film. He wanted so badly to create once more and stay alive one more day he forgot to think about the diminishing lives of those around him.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

Although I have read the book and seen the film before, I still cried in class when this movie was shown- even if I tried playing it off as not. That itself is a testament to the power of the filmmaking. The story is unique in the sense that you are seeing from the perspective of the German youth, not all aware of the consequences of his decisions (or his fathers). The story as a whole though is nothing new- we know about the horror of the Holocaust. So why do we care so much about these characters in a way that I never felt for Garron?
I believe this is because we are experiencing this along-side the characters, instead of being told how they felt, lived and were perceived. Also, the characters came to life in this film through the little things they did, their private gestures as they are called. You can understand them more through these quirks and therefore create a closer connection.
Overall, this film still holds a place in my respected movies page after each revisiting.

The boy in the Striped Pajamas


This film was one of the more tear jerking films we have viewed this semester. This was a film that I had seen prior to our viewing last week. This being said it is extremely difficult to watch even when you know what is coming at the end. After watching this film for the second time I now understand why the ending is so devastating. Of course the ending is gruesome in general but I believe while watching the beginning of the film you really get invested with the characters. I thought this film also gave a great depiction of what it was like for a Jew in this time era. I thought that the relationship between the father and the mother was interesting. The father seemed like he wasn't fully honest with his wife and showed the extreme dedication that German soldiers had for hitter and his beliefs.

Prisoner of Paradise

After viewing this film I came away with mixed reviews. This film truly defined our propaganda section of the class that we have been covering . It was shocking to see how propaganda can but used to create an impression on a particular topic. This type of propaganda completely changed the view of Germany in the war. I thought it was very disappointing the way the film ended. Kurt Gerron did everything that he could to keep his loved ones and himself alive. It was shocking to me to find out that Kurt needed up on one of the last trains that ended up being sent to the gas chambers. Gerron entertained the people inside these prison camps and was one of the small bright lights in this dark time. It was truly incredible to see the amount of people that were being put onto the trains that were being sent to the gas chambers and other camps. This film also helped me see how much of a talented man Gerron. He seemed to have the unique ability to perform any role in the film business. This ranged from playing a number of different acting roles and also being a major contributor behind the camera as well.

Prisoners in Paradise

‘Prisoners in Paradise’ was a heartbreaking film in many ways. This was a film which showed that camp Theresienstadt was not a horrible place for the Jews to live. The famous German actor and director Kurt Geron was forced to live in this camp and create a propaganda film which was meant to be seen by neutral countries. After he had finished creating the film, Geron and a fellow pianist were sent on a train to Auschwitz. When they got there Geron was sent into the gas chambers and killed. The next day the chambers were shut off for good. This film surely showed the good and bad sides of the Holocaust. In my opinion it seemed that the main intention of the film was to show how the camps were not bad places to be, while it actually showed the cruelty of the SS. This film was interesting to watch and gave me knowledge on a camp I haven’t heard of and on Geron. I had heard of Geron but have never been taught about his life. Overall I think this film was a good choice for class.

 -Hayley Johnson

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas was an incredibly poignant and heart-wrenching film.  Because it is shown through the eyes of a young boy, the film has an innocence to it that makes the film all the more difficult to watch as well as all the more compelling, considering the plot and circumstances of the film itself.  As an end to our propaganda themed films, this one was a good way to close it.  Even though I hadn't seen the film before, I knew what the ending was so that did make the film less exciting for me to watch.  Although I was surprised with how well articulated the entirety of the film was, with the wonderful dialogue, the subtelty of the scenery, and the affective friendship between the two young boys.  Overal, the film was heart-wrenching and sad, but very enjoyable to watch.

Prisoners of Paradise

This documentary highlighted the sad but capturing subject of the Holocaust victims who lived in Theresienstadt during WWII. Specifically, the film focused in on Kurt Gerron, who was solicited to produce a  propaganda film in which the people of Theresienstadt would be shown to the outside world as an example of the great conditions being represented throughout these camps. We know that this both did not work and would not have been an accurate representation of even that camp, which struggled just as much as the other. The content of the Holocaust yes is powerful, but this particular film gave a different feel to the common subject of study and respect.
The way the film addressed Gerron's background seemed a bit drawn out and almost unnecessary at times, but did prove helpful at the end of the film when his own talents were then forced to be used for dishonest means. I think with the limited sources for visuals ie. film, art and pictures, this film kept the audience interested. It is also an interesting take at the subject that we think we know a lot about but find that there is always something new to find.
-Caitlin Holton

Prisoners of Paradise

This documentary was another example of the propaganda used by the Nazis to convince the world that what they were doing during Hitler's reign was nothing more than happy, fun camps for those who were forced to go to. Instead what this documentary focused on was the real and terrifying concentration camps where millions of Jews went to die. While the last documentary we watched showed us an actual propaganda video used by the Nazis, which depicted none of the horrible events that were happening behind the scenes, this one was quite the opposite. Prisoners in Paradise took us to the very place where so many people went to starve to death, get tortured and worse. We even saw gruesome images of bodies stacked 10 feet high that photographers back in that day admit they couldn't even look at. The real story of this documentary was about a man who had a choice to either die like so many of his friends and family or to make a propaganda movie showing the world that there is nothing to worry about and the Nazis are right in what they were doing. It is an almost impossible choice to make, and in that sort of life or death situation your true moral character comes out. I don't think anyone can truly answer the question of what they would do in that situation because most of us will never be in any kind of predicament like that. The fear that the Nazi's used made the choice very clear for the filmmaker however.

Prisoners of Paradise

"Prisoners of Paradise" was a wonderful film.  I didn't know anything about the Theresienstadt concentration camp or the famous German-Jewish actor and director Kurt Geron.  Although I have learned about the Holocaust and WW II multiple times all throughout my life, this was one of those instances where I had very little knowledge about the story.  To learn more about the propaganda that the Nazis were involved in, as well as the life of Kurt Geron, was very interesting and tied together very well.
The documentary itself did a wonderful job in tieing together Kurt Geron's life and his story with his time at Theresienstadt, showing how the two were interchangable.  Geron was one of the many prominent people who was forced to live at Theresienstadt  for many years before he too was killed like so many others.  Because he was a talented individual who was involved heavily in the film industry of the time, the Nazis forced Geron to make a propaganda film for them with the promise that he would survive.  This story is compelling because the subject matter is very different than any other Holocaust horror story that I have seen or heard from in a very long time, and really draws you into the history of Geron and the others who struggled to survive in Theresienstadt.  Overall I really enjoyed the documentary and would recommend it to others.

Prisoners of Paradise

"Prisoners of Paradise" and the story of Kurt Gerron is a compelling, tragic, and interesting one all at once. Gerron's story and his time at Thereseinstadt is an interesting subject for a documentary and one I had quite honestly never heard about.

The documentary was effective in its execution, with the archive footage and new interviews both working well together on a number of levels. What the peole have to say is insightful, and the story of all those who lived, associated, and suffered with Gerron is highly compelling. The information on not breaking up the large group and sending them all away together to die was especially impacting. Given Geron's fate, I was compelled by the end of the film to feel bad for him, as I felt in some way I had connected with him over the course of the documentary. Given that I was able to feel such emotions from this documentary in juxtaposition with its professionalism, I would call Prisoners of Paradise a well-made documentary that I would certainly recommend people to see.

Triumph of the Will

"Triumph of the Will" has a ton of cultural significance, and it was very interesting because of that. It is a window not only into a true historical time span, but also a window into propaganda and how it sets out to brainwash anyone vulnerable to it. Indeed, it is fascinating the way in which there is a heavy emphasis on giant crowds, large-scale cheering, and just about every frame having the swastika present. This is biased film making under the guise of fact, with the backdrop of Hitler's journey being that which we are meant to regard highly.

Regardless of the above, however, the film is still arduous in so many ways. The endless scenes of marching and the long build-ups to speeches are not exactly something modern audiences are meant to find engaging. Fascinating perhaps, but certainly not entertaining/engaging. What "Triumph of the Will" is, in essence, is something to be studied and meant (in this day and age) to give insight. In this, it is a successful viewing. In desire to keep me enthralled and desiring a repeat viewing, however...not as much.

Prisoners of Paradise Response

The story of Kurt Gerron was difficult to watch in some respects. This film wasn't as graphic as some other documentaries I've seen about the Holocaust, but it focused on particular people's experiences within the camp. This made the film feel more personal. One thing that stuck out to me about this film was that one of the survivors actually returned to the camp to conduct his interview. That utterly shocked me. He seemed very calm and collected. I don't think I would have been strong enough to do that. Even after so many years. 

Another aspect of the film that surprised me was that some of the survivors interviewed didn't blame Gerron for directing the grossly manipulated documentary about the camp. They recognized how angry people were at the time, but had no anger themselves. I can rationalize why Gerron would decide to direct the film. I can also understand why the other victims would hate Gerron for doing so. To see people who were actually there essentially forgiving Gerron added a degree of humanity to the film. I appreciated that note of positivity. 

 I believe that the film was accurate and feel that I gained a different perspective about the Holocaust. Seeing personal interviews as opposed to broad descriptions of camps and circumstances helped me better understand the constant fear that existed in Theresienstadt. 

Prisoners of Paradise

Prisoners of Paradise chronicled the acting and producing careers of German/Jewish actor Kurt Gerron and the struggles he faced during the tumultuous WWII period and Hitlers rise to power.  I personally found this movie pretty sad.  Even though i knew the outcome before it started there was still this glimmer of hope inside me that led me to believe that in the end the good guys would come out on top.  I kept thinking and hoping that Kurt Gerron would escape Germany just in time, but I knew he wouldn't. Obviously no one could ever imagine that Hitler would gain so much power and all control of the situation would be lost, but it is still sad to see those people stay and hold hope that their home would be returned to normalcy, only to be snatched up and thrown into concentration camps.  As the movie progressed i felt for Kurt Gerron even more because once he was put into Theresienstadt he was hated by his fellow Jewish prisoners for helping to create a piece of Nazi propaganda.  He was promised his life for making this movie and even though in the end they killed him anyway, every single prisoner would have done what he did if they were put into the situation.  Of course he did not want to help the evil enemy, but when you are locked in a concentration camp, starving and tortured, you will do anything to survive and I felt it was unfair for people to turn on Kurt Gerron for what he did.  

Jesus Camp

BY: SABRINA CASERTA

After witnessing those 90 minutes of sheer insanity, I felt compelled to write this blog post. I should preface with the fact that I was raised Catholic, went to Catholic school my entire life and was pledged to the school girl's uniform until I graduated and came here, to RWU. 

I also went to 'Jesus Camp,' when I was 15. At least that's what we called it. It was actually a 4 day conference in the cornfields of Michigan where we spent our days talking social justice and global awareness and our nights sneaking around and evading curfew. 

Anyway, this contributes to my overall feeling of repulsion after viewing this piece. This wasn't the Jesus Camp that me and my friends made fun of in high-school. I don't even know if I would associate the word 'camp' with what they were doing. It was nothing more than a training forum to take advantage of the most vulnerable members of society, children, and build and army.

I was disgusted when I watched parent's raise their children's hands, coaxing them into believing something they know nothing about. I heard parent's say that their children are 'on loan,' and they must 'train them.' How can you have already decided a child's fate like that?

The entire time, I saw the brainwashing and I couldn't help but picture Levi in 15 years, Tori in 10, and I saw them, totally radicalized, doing the same things to their kids. Their seclusion, curtsey of home-schooling coupled with jesus camp, is a complete injustice. These kids are robbed of their adolescence. Their freedom of thought. Though they are children, and innocent in nature, there is a point where children become adults and their habits become too ingrained in their being to ever break free from. 

The entire mantra of the Evangelical religion portrayed in the film was, 'We are right, other religions are wrong.' If 15 years of Catholic school taught me anything, it is that no religion is greater than another. Everyone essentially believes in something, even the people who believe in nothing. Having a narrow mind when it comes to religion breeds nothing but hate, and that goes against everything that Catholicism, and I think religion in general, stands for. Spirituality is about love and acceptance. Not control and manipulation. 

Then, you turn to the news and you hear about abortion clinics being shot up, and doctor's lives being threatened. We wonder where this hate comes from. We wonder who would do this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior? Who would strap a bomb on themselves in the name of Allah? We wonder how so much bloodshed comes from something that preaches the complete opposite. I sometimes think religion causes as many problems as it solves, if not more. 

Triumph of the Will reaction

If there was ever a documentary that could bore someone to death, Triumph of the Will would do the job. I found myself completely distracted and bored within the first ten minutes. I really did try to open my mind to this documentary, knowing it's proven power, and my strong distaste for Adolf Hitler. I was curious to see if it could change my opinion at all. It did not. I saw right past his high and mighty crap and saw the true heartless dictator that he truly was.
Sure this video does not, by any means, show the ruthless acts that he committed toward the Jewish people. No, they chose to leave out that part of the truth and only include the ways that Hitler moved a crowd and the way the children cried of happiness as he walked through the streets of Germany. But with the swastika imprinted on every uniform, I couldn't help but cringe and realize that it wasn't just innocent Jewish people that Hitler and his army were terrorizing, they were also my ancestors. Yet the people of Germany idolized Hitler and thought he was doing a deed. As if he was an angel. People would watch this video and only see the good in Hitler and ignore the terrible things he did. After seeing this video I see how people could have been manipulated back when this was relevant. Now, people wouldn't watch this documentary for more than ten minutes and it wouldn't have nearly the same effect it did back then.

Triumph of the Will and the narratives of history

The timing of this documentary viewing feels quite appropriate given the upcoming release of "Fury", yet another Hollywood WWII film focused on the European front. History shows us that the winning side is the one that gets to tell the story, and the story of American heroism in WWII is a tried and true model for filmmaking. On the other hand, "Triumph of the Will" shows us another possible narrative that was cut short - Hitler's bid to right the wrongs committed to Germany after WWI. From the very title, "Triumph of the Will" this film espouses the values of National Socialist party of Germany, inspiring Aryans everywhere to grit their teeth and buckle down in order to recover in a way that is uniquely German, and specifically Aryan. The most important part of it all, as the film makes quite clear, is the almost divine leadership and direction of Adolph Hitler. Taking a step back, we can see that the film's propaganda relies on a few important characteristics. The speech of Rudolph Hess emphatically states that "The Party is Hitler! Hitler is Germany, as Germany is Hitler!". Hitler is shown in the film as the singular symbol for the German identity emphasized by the Nazi party. Some of the film's images connect Hitler to a sense of deep-rooted German culture such as old architecture or the parade of farmers in traditional dress. On the other hand, Hitler is also shown to have mobilized both boys and adult men in a widespread effort to promote the future of Germany through hard work. The symbol of Hitler and the connections made to a truly German identity carry a narrative from the past into the future, crucial to the ideology of the Nazi party as a restorer of German greatness and promoter of unity. One of the film's other important devices is the scale of choreography involved. To watch this film you would think that 100% of Germany is behind Hitler. This was not so, as the Nazi Party had not achieved majority control of Germany at the time. Yet the images of vast numbers of Germans rallying in a disciplined fashion sent a couple very strong messages: if you're with us, you've made the right choice, if you're not, you should be concerned.

Triumph of the Will is an interesting source for reference for not only its influence in the study of propaganda, but also the way the German people were to perceive Hitler and his "non-militant" followers. Not that this film showed the truth about every German, history proves that to be true, but it does show the passion of those who did follow him. The way they looked at him, listened to him and respected him is scary for us as a future audience to see but not for those watching at the time, looking for some kind of hope. This shows the "truth" that certain people were searching for and the "truth" that Hitler hoped to show the people. It is film making like this- maybe minus the parade scene that puts any watcher to sleep within minutes- that can convince people of something that is not true, or something that they wish were true. it's the passion that matters the most. The passion and the shear numbers of people shown, of all ages.

Triumph of the Will

This documentary showed Hitler and the Nazi party in a light that I have never seen before. Instead of showing the concentration camps or the countless other horrible things that happened during the Nazi era in Germany, they were seen as good people. This propaganda video made it seem like what was happening during Hitler's reign was acceptable. Every scene featured Hitler being portrayed as a God. He was either giving a rally speech to thousands of abiding solders or shaking hands with the public, everyone in the film seemed to LOVE Hitler. He was introduced many times (more than I could remember) and each time there was such a deep admiration for him that you would think Hitler could never do any wrong. In reality we all know it was the exact opposite but to me it is crazy to see how the Nazi's tried to use propaganda film to prove that Hitler was a strong, charismatic leader instead of what he actually was. Obviously we know all about the Nazi's and Hitler but if I were a German during this period this video could have easily swayed my decision about socialism and the Nazi party. Without the constant information that we have access to on a daily basis any German who watched that video could possibly look at Hitler and see him completely differently then others do, in a positive light. Overall the documentary was a little slow for me and repetitive at some points although I have never seen such up-close footage of Hitler before. I also appreciated the commitment it must have taken from thousands of people to create a propaganda video that attempted to brain wash an entire country.            

Waking Sleeping Beauty

The documentary Waking Sleeping Beauty opened me up to whole new side that I have never seen from Disney, and their crazy world of animation. We have all grown up watching and loving Disney animated movies. The documentary showed scenes from all the famous movies they have created over the years and it took me back to the days where I could watch my favorite Disney movies over and over again. What I never thought about was the creation process and just how much time and effort it took to make these classic masterpieces. It was an extremely stressful and competitive atmosphere when the animators were creating characters that they thought children would love and a clever enough idea to draw the audience in. Unsurprisingly the Disney team had to go through a lot of bad ideas before they found one that would become an instant success.

The standard was set very high for animated movies after Walt Disney created classics that resonated with children so much that those movies became apart of their childhood. After he was gone it was up to a new class of young excited kids to follow in Walt's foot steps. This proved to be a harder task then imagined. The team struggled to find that one movie that would bring them back to the glory days where Disney ruled the animation industry. While Disney stock was plummeting, the huge corporation brought in new management to help dig themselves out of a hole. Before watching this documentary I never thought of the struggles this company had to go through to produce the hits that they did, not to mention how they did it.

The fact that they used the process of sketching characters scene by scene and adding the voices in later while all this technology for animation was coming out made me think of it as a much more authentic way of doing things. We saw the process from pitching the idea, to making sketches, adding the sounds and music and everything else that went into making a Disney animated movie. To see the hard work that is put into making Disney what it is today shows just why they are the best at what they do.     

Chris Langone  

Google and the World Brain Response

Google and the World Brain raised many interesting points about privacy, the future of technology and the Monopoly that Google is becoming. The documentary touched on many different aspects of Google and the idea they had to scan every book in the world to make it available digitally. At first many librarians liked the idea of putting all their books online to make it readily available. So Google continued to put as many books on the web as possible before running into legal trouble. Authors around the world confessed their concern that Google was taking their work and putting it online without permission. After a heavy legal battle, Google was forced to stop scanning books and compensate the author's whom books they illegally copyrighted.

Another aspect the documentary talked about was the lack of privacy that we have in today's society and how Google may be responsible for some of it. Every time we type something in on Google it is stored in their memory and then used to advertise to us. This goes to any aspect of technology, our phones included. Everything is saved online and we give out a ton of information openly through popular social media websites like Facebook and Twitter to basically give anyone the right to easily find out who you are. With more advanced technology like Google Glass now we give the right to Google to even see what we are up to on a daily basis. Privacy is getting lost through technology and it's only getting worse.

There was a very eye opening point in the film where a man was talking about the progression of technology and how he is attached to his smart phone. He believes that in the future there will be a chip in your brain that will allow you to do certain things to make you eat better, do things better, and live longer. I think that's a pretty ridiculous concept but the fact that he thinks that will happen makes me worry a little bit. I kept asking the question where will this end? We crossed the barrier of privacy and technology is only getting more advanced, so maybe putting a chip in your brain is the future and maybe Google is already working on a prototype. It's a crazy idea but nobody knows what exactly goes on in Mountain View, California.

Finally the idea of the Google monopoly was the main idea of this documentary in my mind. Google books was ultimately shut down because they would control the online book market leaving other competitors behind due to their vast selection. Besides Google books they have a piece of almost everything else. They revolutionized the search engine as people almost always refer to "google it" if there is a question that needs an answer. They now have phones, GPS, social applications, education applications, you name it Google has it or are probably going to have it. The future is endless for this billion dollar company, it seems that nothing can stop them from controlling the market of almost anything they want.      

The film the triumph of the will was a film that I will only watch once in my life time. While this film was very important in terms of what it did propaganda it is an extremely difficult film to watch. Back in the 1930's around when this film was released it must of had a huge influence on the counties that did allow its people to view it. To me this film was almost comical to points. A scene that stood out to me was the scene when the war camp in Germany was preparing and serving soup for all of its soldiers. The camp looked more like a summer camp for little boys it looked like a place that I wanted to be. Everyone was having a good time and just laughing and enjoying each other's company. I thought this was amazing how Germany perceived their camps. As I am sure that this is not what they were like. Another part of the film that stood out to me was the constant scenes of marching. I thought this was a great use of propaganda on Germany's part. Most of these scenes would make me want to be a part of this new German force. This made me realize just how influential propaganda was during the time of the world wars and how it can still impact our way of life today.

Triumph of the Will

This film was shocking to me from the start. It was obviously in favor of Hitler to prove that he was a good person in the interest of the people. Throughout the film you saw lots of repetition and no emotion from the large marching army. The music was the only reason I stayed interested because all I saw was the large group of SS marching in a formation that could not happen unless they had been practicing for months. When watching I was amazing that not one person was out of line or step. By the end you could tell when they were going to walk, when they would salute Hitler and when they would chant. It is amazing to me that people actually believed this but I guess if I didn’t know the truth and was in there places I would have believed it as well. Just like in today’s society you can never tell what they are using to get you to believe what they are saying. The propaganda in this film truly stuck out, I will have to look into other films and see if it is this obvious.

-Hayley Johnson

Triumph of the Will

        I do not recall the last time I watched a film that was as difficult to get through asTriumph of the Will was. However, we must remember that this film was not made for pure entertainment purposes, rather to portray the Nazi party as a powerful and wonderful thing. Triumph of the Will is one of the most famous propaganda films that has ever been created. But that does not mean it was easy to watch. I understand that an effective tactic in propaganda films is repetition but I do not know how Leni Riefenstahl was able to watch the Nazi troops march by so many times. It was difficult to see this scene as many times as it was in the film. I can’t imagine how many times Riefenstahl saw the Nazi troops march while filming. In class we discussed how her career never recovered, I almost don’t feel bad regarding that fact. Whether this was just a gig for Riefenstahl or she believed in what the Nazi party preached, it still helped a society fall in line with the execution of millions of people.        

       Although I understand what Riefenstahl was trying to accomplish with this film it was hard to watch it with everything I know today. At the time the citizens viewing this piece didn’t know exactly what Hitlers plans for power were. It was difficult to remove what I know today from my head and try to see the film as they did in 1935. It’s easy to say I wouldn’t have been persuaded by the film because I know Hitler was a terrible person. However, its impossible to know whether I would have been swept away with the trend as so many were. 

Triumph of the Will Reaction

This film was incredibly difficult to watch, not only for the subject matter, but also because it was incredibly dense and far too long.  With that being said, the film was incredibly informative.  Whenever I have studied the Holocaust and WWII I have always wondered how Hitler could rally so many people and influence them to go along with his heinous plans.  Actually seeing the propaganda first hand makes it much easier to understand.  Not only is this telling but also the film makes you think more about what information we are being fed today, and what is or isn't propaganda.  Leni Riefenstahl  really was an incredible filmmaker and it clearly shows in this film.  Every shot showed the extensive amount of people that Hitler had at his disposal, and really showed just how powerful he was becoming.  Anyone seeing this film when it first came out must have been scared stiff, to know what Hitler was building and to see it with their own eyes.  Many times throughout the film I admit I almost fell asleep, the repetition bored me immensely, but afterwards I could see how the repetition of the words and experiences that were being shown on screen could influence so many people.  Overall the film was incredibly interesting to see from a historic perspective, as well as to learn about propaganda, but otherwise very dry and tedious.

Triumph of the Will

BY: SABRINA CASERTA
This film was particularly tedious for me. After the first five minutes of just being incredulous that they were making such an obvious piece of propaganda, I started getting annoyed. Did people really believe this? How many times do you have to showcase a swastika to convince the people that the Nazis are A-OK?
The entire film was just repeating a few simple scenes. Hitler smiling, looking regal as ever, waving to the crowds that clearly loved him so very dearly. Images of the youth, their military, having fun. Finally, speeches upon speeches from Hitler on why Germany must be taken back, and of course, Hitler's supporters regurgitating the same nonsense. The entire film to me was totally obvious- the manipulation was not subtle in the least. It made me wonder how I would have reacted to it then. How people react to it now. Also makes me wonder how people react to the propaganda in today's films. Do they even know it's manipulating them? Maybe today we have more 'media literacy,' or perhaps filmmakers have better tactics to infuse propaganda into films? I tend to think the latter.

Waking Sleeping Beauty

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waking_Sleeping_Beauty

Waking Sleeping Beauty is a 2009 American documentary film directed by Disney film producer Don Hahn and produced by Hahn and former Disney executive Peter Schneider, which documents the history of Walt Disney Feature Animation from the making of The Fox and the Hound in 1980 to the release of The Lion King in 1994. The film covers the rise and fall of Disney's animation division, the effects the new corporate team of Michael Eisner, Frank G. Wells, and Jeffrey Katzenberg had on the division, and the newfound success the studio had with the releases of The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion King between 1989 and 1994, during the midst of the so-called Disney Renaissance.^[1]

Unusual for a documentary film, Waking Sleeping Beauty uses no new on-camera interviews, instead relying primarily on vintage interviews, press kit footage, in-progress and completed footage from the films being covered, and personal film/videos shot (often against company policy) by the employees of the animation studio.

Narration by Hahn himself, as well as new audio-only interviews by several of the principal figures - among them executives Eisner, Katzenberg, and Roy E. Disney and animator/directors Mike Gabriel, Rob Minkoff, Roger Allers, Gary Trousdale, and Kirk Wise - are used to augment this footage, which features, in addition to those who were interviewed, filmmakers such as Tim Burton, John Lasseter, Don Bluth, Ron Clements, John Musker, Richard Williams, and George Scribner, and musicians Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, among others. A significant portion of the personal film used was shot by and features Disney animator Randy Cartwright, and this footage is used to bookend the film.^[2]
Waking Sleeping Beauty debuted at the 2009 Telluride Film Festival,^[3] and played at film festivals across the country before its limited theatrical release on March 26, 2010 by Walt Disney Pictures.^[4]

Triumph of the Will Reaction

Triumph of the Will, although a chore to get through, was a very informative and thought provoking film.  After watching actual Nazi propaganda, it really shows just how powerful Hitler was and the influence that this propaganda had on the German people then.  More importantly, it makes you think about what propaganda we are being fed today and if we even realize the influence it has on us.

We have all been taught about the Holocaust and read about how influential Hitler was and how charismatic he was as a speaker having the ability to keep the attention of hundreds of thousands of people but this was the first time I have ever seen actual footage of him speaking.  I was amazed every single time the film cut to a high angle shot of the gigantic masses of people crowding the streets and venues.  An entire city came out just to hear one man speak.  The masses of people were larger than my imagination had always pictured them so that was the first thing about the movie that stuck out to me.  

When I left class my thoughts were about propaganda.  These German people so blindly followed an evil genius on his quest to take over the world because they were so easily influenced.  Are we that easily influenced?  The unfortunate answer is most likely yes.  We are constantly influenced by propaganda.  Its what makes us buy the clothes we wear, the shampoo we use, and the food we eat.  All the advertisements we are bombarded with on a daily basis are just propaganda trying to influence us to but that company's product.

Overall, the movie was rough at times and enjoyable is not the word I would use to describe watching it, but it is was a good wake up call to be aware of what influences you and to keep yourself in check.
-brad

Waking Sleeping Beauty

By: Madison May

Waking Sleeping Beauty was a wonderful documentary that I thoroughly enjoyed. It showed a real look at how Disney creates what it does but it also gave us a look at animation itself. This presentation of information was really something special. I will admit I find it a bit hard to find any kind of fault with Disney, as I grew up with these movies. However, I can admit the man was not without faults. That being said, I think the film presented an accurate look at how Disney functions as a team.

It was truly amazing to see all of the time and work that goes into making the films we've come to love so much. Each frame painstakingly drawn and pieced together to make the fluid movements on screen is a testament to the talent of each artist. I can only imagine the frustration of illustrating a sequence for ages only to find out it is being cut from the final film. Personally, that would discourage me to the point of quitting. I think it's incredibly admirable of the animators to just scrap the work and start again. Having such a love for Disney, it was hard to really focus on the negative aspects of the film. The confrontations between animators and the people in charge really broke my heart. I grew up believing Disney was a land of magic, both in the parks and in the company. Once I was older I knew this was far from the case, but part of me still held on to the idea and refuses to go away even now. I believe the film had an overall positive message to send, but definitely pursued a more balanced representation of Disney than I would have expected.

Though the documentary tried to challenge my views of Disney, the child in me refuses to see any negatives. I thought the film was incredibly well made and very informative. It gave an inside look at a company that tries so hard to make everything end "happily ever after" without making it pure promotion for Disney. It truly made me feel even closer to the movies I have loved.

Waking Sleeping Beauty

Don Hahn's documentary Waking Sleeping Beauty is an well crafted and enjoyable look into the Disney legacy. Not only was it a very behind the scenes tour of Disney's creative process, innovation, and obstacles, but it took us through the history of animation as well.

Our generation grew up with Disney; all of the animation classics were around or came around when we were all kids, we've all seen them, some of us have seen more than others. Some of us went to Disney World, or watched the Disney channel, or went to the Disney store; everyone within our generation has experienced Disney in one form or another.
What the Documentary did for me was bring Disney down to a more personal, almost intimate level. By showing all the key players in the making and growing of the Disney as the Animation forefront, the film brought us into the reality of the business. To see the work and the struggle that went into making some of my favorite childhood films is humbling. While the perspective is through the eyes of the Disney team, its still kept a relatively full and unbiased account. The way they interviewed and talked about all of the members of the Disney team gave the documentary a very reminicent feel, almost as if they are commemorating the way things were. This documentary shows Disney as a great business model and a driven and determined team. Showing Disney in a very positive commercial light they, bring the narration close to the viewer, expanding on individual dialogues and stories.

As far back as I can remember, I can remember Disney; from some of my earliest memories to today, Disney seems to be one of the most constant presences in my life. I'm not saying that I am a Disney fanatic by any means, but instead that for positive or negative, major or minor, I'm saying that I can always remember knowing about Disney. I grew up watching all the Disney classics, I can name countless Disney productions and have been to Disney World as a kid. Getting a look into the roots and creation of Disney was like taking a peek back into my childhood, the documentary did a good job of capturing this and keeping it close to home.

Waking Sleeping Beauty

The documentary film entitled Waking Sleeping Beauty had multiple effects on me. I grew up watching Disney movies every weekend with my family and we would laugh along with each other as we tried to imitate the voices or actions of a specific character. It wasn’t until this film that I figured out how these movies were made. It was fascinating to see that each screenshot was drawn out originally before it hit the big screen, as well as, the time and effort it took to make each drawing. Even after all the work the animators put into the films they would not always make it to the next step whether that be due to financial issues or public interest.

When the film showed the movies which Walt himself created while he was alive, verses the ones that were created after his death, one could clearly see the set back that had risen. Although the members of Disney had to work through their problems they eventually figured it out and created some of the best movies to this day. We were able to see behind the scenes of what the average Disney viewer would not see, we saw the tragedies that occurred with the animators and the board. This film even through the hard times had great examples of teamwork, leadership, and communication skills.

Although one can never tell what the truth is unless you were there I would say this film seemed to be reliable. It gave the examples of the positive and negative aspects of the company, the fails and achievements and it showed how much a company can gain if everyone is working for the same goal. It was interesting to see how over a course of time the company went from making one film to making several at a time. Overall I found this film enjoyable and educational.

 -Hayley Johnson

Waking Sleeping Beauty Reaction

Overall, I enjoyed Waking Sleeping Beauty. It evoked in me both a sense of nostalgia for the early Disney animated films I grew up with as well as an immense appreciation for the tediously detailed amount of labor put into those beloved films by the Disney animators. Before watching the documentary, I neither fully understood nor appreciated the amount of time and meticulous effort the animators poured into the films frame by frame, tiny detail by tiny detail. If the director decided to edit or cut any piece of the story line, hundreds of frames that required weeks of work to create would be thrown out and the animators would be forced to recreate the newly desired plot. Knowing the amount of time and care spent on each sketchy for each tiny piece of the films, this fact broke my heart a little.

            I believe Waking Sleeping Beauty was a truthful documentary exposing what the animation world is actually like behind the final results of magical films. Although the film’s main point seemed to be to expose the drama between CEOS, animators, directors, and producers behind the scenes, I did not much care for it and found myself more focused on the creative work and artistic abilities of the animators required to create the films so loved by so many.

            Otto von Bismarck once said that laws are like sausages because it’s better not to see them being made. His words echoed in my head as I watched Waking Sleeping Beauty. Learning about the politics and bureaucratic back stabbing that occurred in the dark rooms behind the assumed pure, unadulterated magic of Disney’s most classic animated films felt a lot like walking through the floors of a sausage factory. However, I did enjoy learning about the blood, sweat, and tears poured into my favorite films by the little guys who made them jump off a sketch board into audience’s hearts.